Indian cricket icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma paid rich tribute to Shikhar Dhawan after he decided to end his cricket career after 14 years since making his debut for the national squad.

Virat walked down memory lane and said Dhawan gave countless memories to cherish in his career where he also led the Indian squad occasionally in the absence of regular skippers.

"Shikhar @SDhawan25 from your fearless debut to becoming one of India's most dependable openers, you've given us countless memories to cherish. Your passion for the game, your sportsmanship and your trademark smile will be missed, but your legacy lives on. Thank you for the memories, unforgettable performances and always leading with your heart. Wishing you the best in your next innings, off the field Gabbar!"Kohli wrote on X.

Shikhar Dhawan's opening partner and T20 World Cup winning skipper Rohit Sharma echoed similar sentiments when he wrote on X: " From sharing rooms to sharing lifetime memories on the field. You always made my job easier from the other end. THE ULTIMATE JATT. @SDhawan25."

Dhawan, who is considered one of the best openers to represent India in the international area, announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday and said he is happy to represent his country for several years.

Dhawan made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Australia in October 2010 at Visakhapatnam.

His Test debut came against the same opposition in March 2013 at Mohali, where he scored the fastest century by any batsman on Test debut and ended his innings with 187 runs from 174 balls.

In his career, Dhawan played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs and 68 T20Is for India.

Despite playing in all formats of the game, Dhawan gained popularity due to his striking performance in ODI where he amassed 6793 runs at an average of 44.11.

In his IPL career, Dhawan represented several teams like Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings.

In the last leg of his international career, Dhawan led the national team in several tournaments, representing a second string team, in the absence of other seniors.